Grace Mugabe's Women's league has 'no issue' with Kasukuwere

Zanu-PF women's league has said it holds no grudge against the party's beleaguered national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.

The powerful wing, which is led by President Robert Mugabe's influential wife, Grace, has broken ranks with other branches of the fractured Zanu-PF party, which is currently divided along tribal and factional lines.

While the ruling party's 10 provinces have already endorsed votes of no confidence against Kasukuwere, with the party's youth wing also following suit, the women's wing has taken a different approach.

This comes after Grace convened a recent meeting of the women's league at her Mazowe property where she reportedly said the league only had locus standi to ensure the acrimonious divorce from the Zanu-PF influential wing of her erstwhile allies Eunice Sandi Moyo and Sarah Mahoka following weeks of unrest sparked by mega demonstrations held against them by irate members.

Women's league spokesperson Thokozile Mathuthu told the Daily News yesterday that they are not part of the group calling for Kasukuwere's ouster.

"This issue has nothing to with the women's league because as a party, we are structured according to the organs and there is no way we can have issues with Kasukuwere because he is not a member of the league," Mathuthu said.

"If the youth league makes its own declarations, it's their own opinion. But like I said, we are an independent wing, so we have no issue with Kasukuwere. It's purely a main wing issue that we cannot get ourselves involved in, it is that clear."

The women and youth leagues have previously declared publicly that they are inseparable, with the latter arguing that as children they will always follow where their mother (Grace) goes.

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has also thrown his weight behind Kasukuwere, describing those who are demonstrating against him as "renegades."

Zanu-PF secretary for youths Kudzanai Chipanga has told State media that he is backing Kasukuwere's  ouster and that there is no discord in the youth league over the issue.

"All youths are participating in the provincial activities that are taking place against…Kasukuwere countrywide. All youths are supportive of that and we have not heard of any province which is against that," Chipanga said, adding that "they (youths) are speaking without any influence and it is their democratic right."

Harare provincial youth chairperson Edson Takataka was singing a different tune altogether in an interviuew with the Daily News saying the province was behind the ruling party's organiser.

Takataka declared his executive's support for Kasukuwere, describing him as "an extremely capable leader."

"He is our PC, appointed by our beloved president so we have great respect for him and they should leave him in peace.

"He has done a lot of good work which explains why party programmes in the province are running smoothly and for that we love him and have a duty to protect him from some rowdy elements hired from outside the party by elements that have a sinister agenda to destabilise us," Takataka said.